Time indicating device



Nov. 21, 1933. A FREEL 1,935,842

TIME INDICATING DEVICE Filed July 16, 1930 Patented Nov. 21, 1933 PATENTOFFICE TIME INDICATING DEVICE Albert E. Freel,

Owensboro, Ky.

Application July 16, 1930. Serial No. 468,440

3 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in time indicating devices and hasto do, more particularly with clocks, chronometers and watches of thetype in which the time is indicated by 6 numerals visible through anaperture or apertures in an opaque covering face.

It is the primary object of my invention to provide a clock movement orsimilar instrument with time indicating means which may be quickly andaccurately read by any individual, however young or uneducated.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a clock which willindicate timeunder several systems such, for example, as local time anddaylight saving time; or eastern standard time, central standard time,mountain time, and Pacific time.

A further object of my invention is to provide a time indicatingstructure for clocks and the like which may be applied to any standardclock movement whether spring, electric, or otherwise driven.

Further objects and objects relating to details and economies ofconstruction will definitely appear from the detailed description tofollow. In one instance, I accomplish the objects of my invention by thedevices and means described in the following specification. My inventionis clearly defined and pointed out in the appended claims. A structureconstituting a preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated inthe accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the hour dial forming a part of a structureconstituting a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a'plan view of the minute dial forming a part of my preferredstructure;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a second dial forming a part of my preferredstructure;

Fig. 4 is a face view of the apertured cover plate forming a part of mypreferred structure;

Fig. 5 is a view of the hour, minute and second dials concentricallyassociated for disposition upon a clock or similar movement; and

Fig. 6 is a view, in cross section, of a complete time indicatingstructure constituting a preferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawing, like numerals refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

Briefly, my invention consists in providing concentric hour, minute and,if desired, second dials adapted to be rotated by the appropriatedriving elements of a standard clock mechanism. The

'hour dial is the smallest of the dials and is preferably provided withtwo or more concentric circular series of time indicating numerals, onefor local time, and the other for daylight saving time or the like. Theminute dial is larger than the hour dial and is concentrically mounted60 therebehind so that only a narrow band on the periphery of the dialis exposed, which band carries a circular series of numerals denotingthe minutes in each hour. A third and still larger dial, similar to theminute dial, may be provided for indicating the elapsed seconds past theindicated minute. An appropriate cover plate of opaque material providedwith sighting windows cuts off from view all portions of the severaldials except spaces suificiently to disclose one numeral in each series.

More specifically, and with reference to the numbered parts of mydrawing, my preferred construction consists of an hour dial 10 having acentral shaft 11 adapted for coupling to any conventional form ofchronometric prime mover (not shown). Upon the front face of the dial isa circular series 12 of numerals ranging from 1 to 12. Around thisseries and concentric therewith is a second series 13, the figures ofwhich are alined, radially, with those of the first series but arenumerically so arranged with respect to those of the first series 12that the numerals of the outer series 13 denote time two hours earlierthan the alined numerals of the inner series 12. A third series 14disposed around the series 13 denotes time one hour in advance of thefirst series 12. Accordingly, regarding the numerals of series 12 asdenoting central standard time, the radially alined numerals of series13 and 14 properly indicate Pacific time and central daylight savingtime, respectively. The numerals of the several series 12, 13 and 14 arepreferably distinguished from each other by different characterizationor by distinctive coloring. The times indicated on the drawing arementioned purely for purposes of illustration and explanation and, as isobvious, by appropriate numeralization time readings in any given systemor for any set of locations may be provided in an indicating deviceembodying my invention. For the purpose of indicating minutes past thehour, I employ a minute dial 15 of slightly larger size than the hourdial 10, which dial 15 is concentrically disposed behind dial 10 and isprovided with a tubular driving shaft 16 which surrounds shaft 11 of thehour dial and is driven by appropriate minute indicating drivingmechanism of the chronometric prime mover (not shown). The exposedbandlike portion of the minute dial 15 is provided with numerals readingfrom 0 to 59 arranged in a circular series 17. A third and still largerdial 18, similar to the dial 15, is provided for indicating the secondspast each minute and is supported and driven by the tubular shaft 19.Second dial 18 is likewise provided with a circular series 20 ofindicating numerals. For the purpose of enclosing dials 10, 15 and 18 sothat there will be visible but one complete numeral of a series at anyone moment, there is provided a cover member 21 formed of sheet metal orother opaque. material having a plurality of small windows ofapproximately numeral size. Window 22 is disposed at such a distance,radially, from the center of the cover as to expose to view numerals ofseries 12 as the dial 10 is rotated by the chronometric prime mover. Thewindow 22 is defined by a beveled portion 23, and a nameplate 24 isdisposed thereover for the. purpose of informing the observer that thenumeral sighted through this window 22 indicates the standard time forthe location in which the clock is situated. Similar windows 25 and 28,defined bybeveled portions 26 and 29, and associated with name plates 27I and 30 indicate Pacific time and central daylight saving time,respectively, in terms of the exposed numerals of series 13 and 14. Asan optional or additional means of indicating time in advance or arrearsof standard time without the use of more than a single series ofnumerals, windows may be placed at different points about the covermember 21. Such an arrangement is incorporated in the form of myinvention shown in Fig. 4, in which there is a window 31 alined with theouter series 14 of hour indicating numerals. In

this arrangement, the time indicated at 13 is three hours earlier thanthe time indicated at 28 as central daylight saving and is a properindication of Pacific standard time. Shutters S shown in dotted-linesand slidable in slots S are preferably provided, one for each hourwindow so that, if desired, any one or several of the times may beeliminated from view, to the simplification of the indication. A window32 is provided for sighting the proper minute numeral of the series 17.Likewise a window 33 is provided for sighting the numerals of the secondindicating series 20 as they pass. The cover plate is provided withscrews 34 or other means for its disposition upon the chronometric primemover (not shown), and a slot 35 through which the dials may be reachedfor resetting.

I have disclosed what I believe to be. a preferred embodiment of myinvention. I am aware that many changes may be made in the constructionherein shown without departing from the essential spirit of myinvention. I, therefore, claim my invention broadly as indicated by theappended claims.

1. A time indicating device for use with a chronometric prime movercomprising: a rotatable hour dial having a circular series of numeralsthereon, a rotatable minute dial of greater diameter than said hour dialconcentrically arranged with respect thereto and bearing a circularseries of numerals which encircle said hour dial and are exposedtherearound, means for coupling said dials to the appropriate drivingelements of the prime mover, and an opaque face plate covering saiddials from view, said face plate having an opening through which onecomplete minuteindicating numeral of the minute dial is visible at anygiven moment, a second opening spaced, from the common center of saidface plate and dials, a lesser distance than said first-mentionedopening and through which only one complete hour-indicating numeral ofthe hour dial is visible at one time, a third opening spaced the samedistance from said common center as said secondnientioned opening, butso circumferentially spaced from said second-mentioned opening as tofully but restrictively reveal one other numeral of said hour dialindicative of the instant hour under a time system other than thatindicated by the numeral visible through said second-mentioned opening,and shutter means for selectively covering from view one of the saidhour numerals.

2. A time indicating device for use with a chronometric prime movercomprising: a rotatable hour dial having several circular series ofnumerals concentrically arranged thereon, the numerals of one seriesbeing radially alined with the numerals of the other series in suchuniform numerical displacement that the radially alined numeralsrepresent, individually, corresponding time under different systems, arotatable minute dial of greater diameter than said hour dialconcentrically arranged with respect thereto and bearing a circularseries of numerals which encircle the hour dial and are exposedtherearound, means for coupling said dials to the appropriate drivingelements of the prime mover, and an opaque face plate covering saiddials from view, said face plate having an opening through which onlyone complete minute-indicating numeral of the minute dial is visible atany given moment, and a radially alined series of openings through whichone and only one complete hour-indicating numeral of each series isvisible at one time.

3. A time indicating device for use with a chronometric prime movercomprising: a rotatable hour dial having several circular series ofnumerals concentrically arranged thereon, the numerals of one seriesbeing radially alined with the numerals of the other series in suchuniform numerical displacement that the radially alined numeralsrepresent, individually, corresponding time under different systems, arotatable minute dial of greater diameter than said hour dialconcentrically arranged with respect thereto and bearing a circularseries of numerals which encircle the hour dial and are exposedtherearound, means for coupling said dials to the appropriate drivingelements of the prime mover, and an opaque face plate covering saiddials from view, said face plate having an opening through which onlyone complete minute-indicating numeral of the minute dial is visible atany given moment, a radially alined series of openings through which oneand only one complete hour-indicating numeral of each series is visibleat one time, and shutter means for one of the openings of said radiallyalined series, which when closed cuts off from view one entire series ofnumerals.

ALBERT E. FREEL.

